The DIY/Doing up house Thread (aka My house is falling down)

Per post elsewhere, the process of building a knife/axe range continues. The appointed area has been cleared, anti weed sheeting is down and wood chip laid over the top. I've got a load of decorative slabs to go down to keep it flattish and allow distance calculations etc.

The garage wall is measured and prepped and what was intended to be a ply sheet for the backing (to protect the wall and hang targets off) has sort of morphed into just a huge target...

Basically, it's proving difficult to get hold of BIG log or stump sections because it's all being chopped and dried to be sold for firewood. Even the stumps.

So I have seven water proofed, 6 foot 6 boards, about 3.5 inches deep which have been cut to match today and will be battened together and affixed to the wall with heavy duty 90 degree brackets to make a 4ft wide by 6ft and tall target area. I'll either paint a target on it or buy some paper ones to stick to it.

Should be done in three weeks, for the Mrs' big day. She's pretty handy with a knife, too ❤️

That would also be an option, but I'd need to get a lot more pieces. I do probably have enough pieces of untreated wood drying out that I could probably treat and in future, I will consider making a frame and then filling it with the end grain pieces in that fashion.

Like:



What we're doing is making a board out of the big thick planks and fixing it to the wall. Ideally I'd then mount a really big stump section (like 60cm +) on top that but as I said, it's proving difficult to find anything for sale. You can get 20cm ones for wedding cake stands and suchlike but that's a pretty small target from any sort of distance.

We've tested the board and the knives will definitely stick, so it is valid for use as a target. I'll see how it goes when it's mounted. I'll try to post a pic if I can get it uploaded.
Edit:



Big old target.


It's probably not clear from the post, but the ply was really only intended as backing to protect the bricks from errant throws.

😁

Strictly speaking, throwing actual wood chopping, long handled axes is possible but it takes some pretty serious skill and practice to do it effectively and you need a lot more room, too. They're not really intended for it and the balance is usually not right for chucking, so it's problematic and better avoided. I've done it, but on a proper range, with a professional instructor. It was much better and more satisfying throwing hatchets and tomahawks that are designed for it.

Same with knives, really. You can learn to throw anything, but whether it's worth the effort when you can easily get decently balanced blades specifically for throwing is a different matter. YMMV, of course.

We've both done it a lot over the years and it's a hobby, but we didn't get on with the only local club, so we thought we'd have a go at making a home range. We'll be safe and sensible about it and our garden is such that no one else could be endangered.

It's really good fun. I'd recommend trying it out if there's somewhere near you that does it.

You lot really should have got your kids watching watching Ricky Jay card throwing videos at an early age

I'm sorry skalpadda I think i misrembered an RPS conversation or I'm falling into lazy national stereotypes

skalpadda, disappointment about lack of axes aside, that's a nice spot by the window. 

A very underated weapon - Ikea has nearly killed me loads of times.

Has he hit many of them?

/veal

Went to replace the washer in the hot tap and the bloody retaining screw is set fast :/ Obviously whoever has done so in the past has also managed to make a mess of it too.

Hope he got a badge for it!

Word of mouth is usually the best way.
Ask neighbours and family, someone will recommend someone

Anyway, target is built and attached to the wall.



Needs marking up and painting as a target now. Few measurements and some paving slabs to stand on and it'll be ready.

Oh, axes?

Yeah, axes, knives.